Happy New Year! This is my first post for the newyear. I have exciting news. I am currently hunting around for a seamstress or seamster to help me get a clothing line for House of Spiritflower up and running! Isn't it exciting! I have no skills in it but hope to learn one day, but thought that if I have proffessionals in sewing and patternmaking I could start up that way. So it's been alot of emailing and replying and getting qoutes and looking at stunning portfolios and feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of replies to my ad. So I hope that 2013 will bring some new work for myself and others and lots of new exciting products to potential customers.
Also from This coming Monday January 7th 2013 my beadwork will be displayed at the Coming Soon Club shop in Wembley. More details in my next post. Have a great New Years Day! Love Danielle xo
A slightly random post, a couple of music videos/songs that I adore and which I listen to while beading and creating this website.
From the top "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult inspired by Romeo and Juliet's love.
Enjoy, and yes I love the cowbell!
Bead Embroidery book by Sherri Serafini check out her site for her kits and gallery of work www.serafinibeadedjewelry.com
Bead Embroidery book by Heidi Kummli that has 13 beautiful projects and looks at totem animals,colour,the elements and healing gemstones that match them. Check out her site www.freespiritcollection.com
I love bead embroidery, it is the technique I use for all my beadwork. It allows me to "Paint" with beads to create any image I want. Different sizes of beads can be used from the standard size 11 used in most beadwork to the tiny size 15 and antique size 20 to 24 which is almost like glitter! they are so small.
Many people ask me "How do you do that" It is time consuming and does require patience but is easy to learn and made up of a few basic stitches.
Above is a video of bead artist Sherri Serafini demonstrating how she made one of her cuff bracelets,the techniques she shows are in more detail in her book (shown above) and is used to make all her gorgeous earrings,cuffs,neckpieces,necklaces and bags.
There are also many beautiful books on creating gorgeous,detailed bead embroidered jewellery and art which incorporates not just seed beads, but swarovkski crystal bicone beads,freshwater pearls,found objects,cabouchons and much more. Once you try it you will be addicted and want to create loads of your own sparkly,colourful pieces.
Bead Embroidery Books
My favorite bead artists Sherri Serafini who has created beadwork for the band AeroSmith and makes the most amazing collars,necklaces and bags. She is also co-author of "The Art of Bead embroidery" which has many techniques,stitches and amazing projects.
The other book is "The Spirit of Bead Embroidery" by Heidi Kummli which looks at totem animals,their symbolisim,the gemstones and their healing properties associated with various animals,elements and colours and how to incorporate this into healing,energising and inspiring beadwork as well as 13 gorgeous projects ranging from simple rings to very detailed neck collars. Both these books are great for beginners.
I would also highly recommend Sherri Serafini's solo book "
Bead Embroidery stitches
The stitch I favor and use the most is Couching Stitch. The needle is threaded and brought through to the front of the fabric (felt/pellon interfacing heavyweight/ultrasuede or lacys stiff stuff or Nicoles Bead backing) beads are then strung on the needle is brought down into the fabric. Then go 3-4 beads down and bring the needle up in between the space between beads and sew over the gap, continue down the bead strand every3-4 beads to attach it down onto the fabric.
Go here for a youtube video showing the technique as well as other bead embroidery stitches and beautiful examples of bead embroidery.
Beads East have a wealth of videos on different beading techniques and many kits and materials for you to create your own work.
Bead Embroidery materials: Fabrics to bead on.
Most beaders use a product called Lacy's Stiff Stuff to bead on. It's stiff and easy to bead through a bit like interfacing. Many shops in the usa stock it and if you want it in the uk go to Robins Beads ,or The London Bead Company. Alternatively do a search on www.etsy.com and many people there stock it in lots of colours. Thing is it's pricey so while I use it if I really need to start stitching (i go to the London Bead Co which is opposite Kentish Town station in London) you could use HeavyWeight Pellon Interfacing (the non-fusiable one) which is just as stiff (you may have to order from the states as I am having no luck in the uk) or the very affordable Nicole's Bead Backing which is made by bead artist Nicole go to her website www.beadwright.etsy.com she has 3 sizes of sheets in packs of 16 as well as sets of 4-5 sheets. I will be buying this soon as it is more affordable and just as stiff as Lacy's.
Beads/Crystals for Bead Embroidery:
You can use any size of bead for beading. Size 11 or even 8 is good for beginners as they are a bigger size but not massive and come in lots of finishes and colours.
Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls are my all time favorite and I don't just use a few here and there, it's not unusal for me to need to buy 300 or more crystals (in 100 crystal bead bags) in my work. For crystals try www.beadsandcrystals.co.uk they do 100 bead bags right up to to 1440 which is the max size bag for 4mm beads. Try www.buffysbeads.co.uk for pearls and semi-precious stones. if in the states www.firemountainbeads.com Fire mountain beads and gems. Or just google as there are alot of suppliers out there!
fossil coral cabochons. Domed flat back stones made from various gemstones and fossils.
freshwater pearl strands.
Nicole's Bead Backing www.beadwright.etsy.com check out her beautiful blog about her beadwork www.beadwright.blogspot.com
Morning all and welcome to Part 2 of my interview with Tara from Tara's ArtHouse. Tara's paintings on wood go through many stages till they are complete, here she shows step by step progress shots of how my favorite painting "LEADER" was created.
What inspired you to become a artist and what media do you use?
I've always loved art ever since I was a child.When I was young I would draw little comic dtrips that would make my parents laugh.
My great-aunt Mincy is a fantastic artist and she would let me use her canvases and paints to play. When I was done she would add some final touches to complete the painting. She's been a huge inspiration to my art. Also my fiance's mother Andrea is an artist and her work just blows me away.Everytime she creates a new piece it inspires me and makes me want to improve.
Are you self taught or had any art training?
I am self taught.I started out playing with watercolors on paper then acrylic on canvas.I was intimadated by oils because of the long drying time,the idea of using thinners/oils and having to clean your brushes out using mineral spirits or turpentine. I finally bought some oils and started testing them out and haven't looked back. When paired with a wood panel the wood soaks up the soft buttery oils, it's become my favorite combination of materials.
Your work seems to cover a variety of themes from Elizabeth taylor to the mohawked lady in Leader. What themes do you use and why?
There is alot of variety in my work as I get bored pretty quickly as something new is always catchingmy eye.The women to me represent Strength and Beauty in two different aspects.One is more a classical beauty while the other is a more modern take.
What is behind (to my eye) the more abstract figuritive pieces?
These pieces are the chance to explore bold colour and line.Kind of like the digital media pieces,it's a little less constrained,more freeing.
Whats next for Tara's Art House?
What I hope to do next is make my work available in as many different forms as possiable. I want to create greetings cards,postcards,bookmarks,calenders pretty much anything that is affordable and practical. I also want to take a greener approach and use recycled materials whenever I get the chance. I have some postcards being printed on 100% recycled paper available in the shop at the moment.
Next week.... The final part looking at the hardships and rewards Tara encounters as a creative business woman and first look at new digital works
"Leader" Oil paint,Linseed oil on Birchwood.
Hi all and welcome to my first Designer Maker Interview on my new blog!
This interview took place a few years ago and Tara has been a very busy lady since then. A new art direction into the realm of digital art imagery and a new baby boy means this creative force has alot going on.
I saw Tara's work on etsy as a itty bitty thumbnail avatar on the forums and was intrigued so had to click onto her shop. Once I saw her beautiful paintings I just had to interview her. So without further ado here is what inspires this artist and makes her tick.
"Non Ducor Duco" I am not led I lead.
All work owned and copyrighted to Tara's Art House.
What is the name of this piece,the inspiration/story behind it and what materials were used?
I used oil paint thinned down with linseed oil to give it a translucent look. I painted it onto a birch panel and and framed it with wood when I was finished.
What inspired me to paint it was the desire to portray someone who isn't your typical "cookie-cutter" version of beauty. I found a gorgeous stock photo of this model and couldn't get over it. She looked strong and vulnerable, androgynous yet feminine all at the same time.
I added in the tattoo "Non Ducor Duco" meaning "I am not led,I lead" in latin. It really tied the piece together and portrayed everything I wanted to say with this piece.
Mad Hatters Manor, Oil paints thinned with linseed oil on Birchwood.
This piece is a throwback to Lewis Carrols "Alice in Wonderland" , Disney and Tim Burton. My favorite scene is the Mad Hatters Tea Party. I always imagined that if he had a favorite chair it would be this dramatic,plush,high backed victorian chair.
I wanted to involve pieces of the film and books without it being blatantly obvious.
I have the Mad Hatters top hat,Alice's key and the White Rabbit's pocketwatch. I wanted this painting to have a darker feel to it.
Cleopatra, Oil,Linseed oils on birchwood.
I wanted this piece to embody the classic,timeless beauty of Elizabeth Taylor and the strong sensual quality of Cleopatra. I have always been drawn to the dramatic jewelry and makeup used in the film and really wanted to capture that in a painting. I also painted this to challenge myself to get better at painting human likenesses.
"Cleopatra" Oils, Linseed Oil on Birchwood.
"Victorian Chair" Oils,Linseed Oil on Birchwood.
Psychedlic Owl, Watercolor,Graphite,Paper,Digital Media.
This piece was something fun and a chance to combine two medias, traditional and digital. I sketched out the little owl first,painted it with watercolours,scanned it and amped up the colours and added different elements and textures digitally.
It is really freeing to work digitally with my pieces.I,m not scared to mess up as it gives me the chance to go all out and try all the stuff I never would try with traditional media. It also gives me the chance to try out different versions of the piece.
"Tiny Owl" Watercolor,Graphite,Digital Media
"Take Flight" Digital Media self portrait/Photography.
This piece is part of my venture into photogprahy. I wanted it to feel as if the owl and I were blending together into one preparing to take flight. I think most people have imagined what it must be like to fly, whether for escape or adventure,out of fear or curiosity. I wanted the viewer to see this image and imagine their own reasons and emotions.
"Take Flight" Photography, Digital Media,Self Portrait.
"Dark Dreamer" Digital Photgraphy.
This is another piece I wanted to have a darker feel to it. I wanted the viewer to decide whether she was really dreaming or if there was something more to it.
I wanted to play up the rich red tones by desaturating the rest of the image, really drawing your eye into the girl and the chair.
"Dark Dreamer" Digital Photography
Next week..... Tara's Art House Part 2: Inspirations and Media with work in progress shots behind the making of the painting "Leader".
RSS Feed